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Sunday, January 01, 2012

In honour of Hanukah, a real miracle is about to happen: Yuval Taib's album Shema Yisrael,
the album of the decade, has been released. Taib has been a star of oriental music since the
age of 8, his first album was released on the occasion of his barmitzvah, back in the 90's.
Even then his father sensed that his considerable talent needed polishing and sent him to
learn voice production and classical violin. Along with his school lessons, the youngster
listened to the leading lights in Arabic music, such as Um Kaltoum, Abdul Wahab, Abed
Halim, Frid Al-Atrash and others.

The young Taib began to collect records and cassettes, sang duets with the leading singers
in the country and studied with top musicologists. Today, Taib is considered, despite his
youth, to be a walking encyclopaedia on everything in the realm of Arabic music. An expert in
Egyptian music, he takes calls from professionals seeking his advice on the source of
melodies and maqams. Yuval Taib lectures in the history of poetry and piyyutim at various
academic institutions.

His musical upbringing, the endless appearances and performances were all just preparation
for this very album. The cream of talent in Jewish ethnic music comes together in this
fascinating album:
Yechiel, Eli Keshet, Adi Leon and, in addition, the master producer, Haim Devash.

Shmuel Yona, Rami Lev, Arlette Safadiye, Yaakov Menashe, Erez
Shema Yisrael by Yuval Taib is packed with contemporary hits that span the spectrum of
styles – from western to authentically Arab. One track sung in two languages: Wedding
Night, is slated to be a moving hit at weddings, in two versions in Hebrew and in Arabic. The
album allows Yuval Taib's fans to at last hear the singles that have become hits: Am Echad,
Yom Yavo & Halleluy-ah that feature on the list of tracks.